Issue 34 February/March 2010
We talk to Darryl Church for expert advice on where to start when bringing colour to the exterior of your home.
Many factors can influence your choice of exterior colour for your home, and you may be surprised at how limited your options may be. The best place to start is at the beginning and ensure that you have a strong understanding and grasp of the rules and restrictions that may apply to your renovation or new build. Once you have conquered these however, the world is your oyster.
Restrictions
It is becoming increasingly popular for new subdivisions to have covenants stating that only certain external claddings are acceptable in limited colour palettes. Sensitive landscape locations are often granted consent with special town planning regulations which nominate accepted external claddings or that stipulate colours meet a certain reflectance value. In some cases these cladding and colour schemes are required to be submitted at the design stage for approval by a nominated design panel.
Some modern building materials such as plastered EIFS or fibre cement products have limitations placed on them by the manufacturers to enable them to offer warranties or guarantees. This results in you being restricted to the use of lighter tones when selecting colour. On some building materials, the darker colours can cause excessive movement and ultimately reduce the claddings' ability to remain weather-tight.
If you are renovating an older home you may also encounter limitations as town planning rules could once again apply with an increasing number of Historic Streets being identified. These require colour schemes to comply with a stipulated historic colour palette. Be careful about painting older materials that could possibly have multiple layers. Selecting a darker shade could cause the multiple layers underneath to delaminate, crack and peel, or blister into bubbles. A good painter or your local paint supplier representative should be able to give you advice if you are unsure.
Get the latest issue of homestyle for more advice on exterior colour. Available from supermarkets, book stores and magazine outlets nationwide.